Self-locking package with recessed end portions



Aug. 18, 1970 E. R. HEYWORTH 5 5 SELF-LOCKING PACKAGE WITH R ECESSED ENDPORTIONS Filed Dec} '25, 1:9 8 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E rnesf R.Heyworfh ATTORNEY Aug. 1's, 1970 E, R, HEYWORTH 3,524,580

SELF-LOCKING PACKAGE WITH RECESSED END PORTIONS Filed Dec. 25, 1968 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Ernest R. Heyworfh A TTORNE Y US. Cl. 229-40 9Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unitary self-locking container has apair of integrally formed recessed end portions for protecting thepackaged contents from direct impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past it has been customary to packagebooks and the like in padded containerized envelopes having suitablematting or corrugated protectors. More recently, it has been common toenclose individual books to be mailed within a folder or book wrapperwhich snugly circum scribes the book. An illustration of such known bookwrapper is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,762,553 to Bentz.

Although the prior art devices function to protect the packaged bookfrom minor scufling and abrasion, they did not provide adequateprotection against impact resulting from rough handling and abuseencountered in the postal system. As a result it was not uncommon forbooks packaged in the known manner to receive blunted or bent corners ontheir covers while in transit. The present invention overcomes theseproblems by providing shock-absorbing resistance to impact through theutilization of integrally formed recessed end portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A unitary blank of suitable material such ascorrugated board, chip board, and the like is die cut and scored to forma book wrapper having recessed end walls which are locked in position byextended interior flaps, and an envelope flap engageable with a slottedfront panel for self-locking the container in a manner satisfactory formailing.

It thus has been an object of the present invention to provide animproved unitary mailable book wrapper having shock-absorbing recessedend portions which resist impact, and an easily-applied envelope-typeclosure flap for producing a self-locking arrangement sufiicientlystrong to maintain its locking characteristics when subjected to theabuses encountered during mailing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a blankfor forming a self-locking package with recessed end portions.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view looking at the right end of FIG. 1, butwith the recessed end panels in a vertical position with their retainingflaps in a horizontal position.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but wth the front panelfolded horizontally over the retaining flaps.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the self-locking package in a closedposition.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a blank for forming a further embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 5 with the recessedend panels in a vertical position and with their associated lockingflaps in a horizontal position.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with the front panel overlyingthe locking flaps.

3,524,580 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 ice FIG. 8 is a top plan view similarto FIG. 7 but with the locking flap in its closed position.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken along line 9-9 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken alon line 1010 ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the further embodiment in a closed andlocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,and particularly FIGS.

1 through 4, a blank 10- for forming a self-locking package 11 withrecessed end portions is shown having a back panel 12, a front panel 14,an envelope flap 16 having a locking tongue 18, a pair of side panels20, 22, and a pair of recessed end panels 24 having retaining or lockingflaps 26 extending therefrom. The various panels and flaps are joinedtogether as a unitary structure by means of a plurality of crease lines28.

The front panel 14 is provided with a plurality of slit portions 30,including a base slit line 32 terminating at its extremities in shortend slits 34, which extend perpendicularly to the base slit so as to addflexibility to the slotted area formed by such slit portions. Thelocking tongue 18 has a pair of shoulder portions 36 which cooperatewith the base slit 32 when the locking tongue is lockably positionedwithin slotted or slit portions 30. End panels 24 are formed partly outof back panel 12, and as a result front panel 14, side panels 20, 22 andenvelope flap 16 are of a greater width than back panel 12.

When assembling the package 11 from the blank 10', the recessed endpanels 24 are folded along crease lines 28 to a vertical position withrespect to back panel 12, and their retaining or locking flaps 26 arealso folded along their associated crease lines to a position parallelto the back panel (FIG. 2). Side panel 20 is then folded upwardly intoabutting engagement with the end of recessed panels 24 and locking flaps26, and front panel 14 is folded over locking flaps 26 so as to lieparallel to back panel 12 (FIG. 3.) Side panel 22 is then foldedupwardly so as to abut anend portion of recessed panels 24 and lockingflaps 26, and locking tongue 18 is depressed so as to engage slittedportions 30- as envelope flap 16 is folded over flap panel 14. Theslitted portions 30 deform to facilitate the insertion of the lockingtongue 18, such that shoulder portions 36 cooperate with the base slit32 to lockably retain the envelope flap in a closed and locked positionwith respect to the front panel (FIG. 4). The locking action eifectedbetween the locking tongue and the slitted portion is of such magnitudethat additional sealing means are not required, even for mailingpurposes.

The depth or inward extent of retaining flaps 2.6 is greater than theheight or depth of the recessed end panels 24, so as to effectivelyprevent the panels from sliding outwardly of the closed and lockedpackage. That is, the greater extent of retaining flaps 26 cooperatewith the back surface of the front panel 14 so as to maintain the endpanels in a closed relationship with the front panel by forming awedging or jamming action when such side panels are subjected to anoutward force.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recessed end panels 24 are positioned inwardlyof the outer ends of side panels 20, 22 and front panel 14. Accordingly,panels 24 produce recessed end portions which are protected againstimpact by end portions of panels 14, 20 and 22 which extend outwardly ofthe end panels. The recessed end portions are not only to protect thecontents against impact damage occasioned during mailing, but also toprotect corner portions of the packaged article from abrasion andscuffing during transit.

Referring now to FIGS. through 11, a further blank 40 is shown forforming a modified self-locking package 41 embodying the presentinvention. The blank 40 is composed of a back panel 42, a front panel44, an envelope flap 46 having a locking tongue 48, a pair of sidepanels 50, 52, and a pair of recessed end panels 54 having retaining orlocking flaps 56 extending therefrom. All of the flaps and panels areconnected together as a unitary structure by means of crease lines 58.

A plurality of slitted portions 60, including a base slit line 62terminating in end slits 64, are provided in front panel 44 forming aslotted area. Locking tongue 48 has a pair of shoulder portions 6'6,spaced apart from envelope flap 46 so as to cooperably engage with thebase slit 62 when tongue 48 is lockably positioned within the slottedarea formed by slits 60. Locking fiaps 56 are provided with recessedportions 68 so as to cooperably receive shoulder portions 66 when thelocking tongue 48 is in its secured position, since locking flaps 56extend inwardly a distance sufficient to intercept locking tongue 48.Further, in order to facilitate the opening of the closed package, atear strip 70 may be provided in side panel 50 if desired. End panels 54are shown formed partly out of back panel 42, and as a result sidepanels 50, 52, front panel 44, and envelope flap 46 have a greater widththan back panel 42.

Blank 40 is assembled in the same manner as blank 10, with the recessedend portion 54 being folded upwardly and locking flap 56 being foldedinwardly over back panel 42 as shown in FIG. 6. Side panel 50 is thenmoved to an upward position in abutment with end portions of panels 54and 56, and front panel 44 folded to overlie panels 56 in a planeparallel to back panel 42, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Side panel 52 isthen raised upwardly and locking tongue 48 depressed so that itoperatively engages and projects within slit portion 60 as envelope flap46 overlies the upper portion of front panel 44. The shoulder portions66 are accommodated within the re cesses 68 of retaining flaps 56, andcooperate with base slit 62 to lockably maintain the tongue portion inan operatively locked position within the slit portion, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 10.

The retaining or locking flaps 56 have a substantial inward extent toprevent recessed end panels 54 from being pushed outwardly of the closedpackage. Recessed portions 68, formed in locking flaps 56, are requiredto accommodate the shoulder portions 66 of locking tongue 48 when theheight of recessed end panels 54 requires such an inward extension ofretaining flaps 56 to provide an effective locking action. The tear tab70 provides an easy access to the packaged contents, since the lockingtongue 48 is not readily removable from slotted portion 60. As notedparticularly in FIG. 11, the recessed end panels 54 are protected fromimpact and abuse by end portions of surrounding panels 44, 46, 50 and52, which longitudinally extend outwardly of end panels 54. Accordingly,edge portions of the packaged contents are protected from impact damagethrough the protective cushioning effect provided by the panelssurrounding the recessed end portions.

Although the now preferred embodiment from the invention has beendisclosed in detail, it will be apparent 4 1 to those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: 1. A unitary blank for forming a self-locking package withrecessed end portions which comprises, a back panel, a pair of sidepanels extending along and communicating with opposed side edges of saidback panel, an envelope flap having a locking tongue portion foldablyconnected to one of said side panels and a front flap having slittedportions foldably connected to the other of .said side panels, a pair ofrecessed end panels formed partially out of and along the full length ofopposite end portions of said back panel, a retaining flap foldablysecured to each of said recessed end panels, and the width of said sidepanels, front panel, and envelope flap being greater than the width ofsaid back panel.

2. A unitary blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining flapshave a depth greater than the depth of their associated recessed endpanels.

3. A unitary blank as defined in claim 1 wherein a recessed portion isformed in the outer edge of each said retaining flap.

4. A unitary blank as defined in claim 1 wherein a tear strip isprovided in one of said side panels.

5. A unitary blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said slit portionsinclude a base slit having a pair of end slits extending perpendicularthereto at each terminal extent.

6. A unitary self-locking package having recessed end portions whichcomprises, a back panel, a front panel having slit portions, a pair ofside panels, an envelope flap overlying said front panel and having alocking tongue positioned within said slit portions to retain thepackage in a closed assembly, a pair of recessed end panelscommunicating with opposite edge portions of said back panel; and saidside panels, front panel and envelope flap having portions extendingoutwardly beyond said back panel and said end panels to form protectedrecessed end portions.

7. A package as defined in claim 6 including a retaining flap foldablyconnected to and of greater depth than each said recessed end panel,positioned in cooperative frictional engagement with an inner surfaceportion of said front panel.

8. A package as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said retaining flapshas a recessed portion which cooperably receives shoulder portions ofsaid locking tongue.

9. A package as defined in claim 6 wherein said front panel, sidepanels, and envelope flap have a greater longitudinal extent than saidbottom panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,875 11/1962 Mairs 206-463,227,356 1/ 1966 Eifrid 229-40 3,261,537 7/1966 Kistner 229-40 WILLIAMT. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 206-46

